How To Fix Roof Trusses

The first thing you need to do is to assess the damage.

How to fix roof trusses.

Fixing roof trusses to a wall plate requires a small amount of carpentry knowledge such as the abilities to read a tape measure and operate a framing square. Inspect and assess the damaged section of timber and determine where it needs to be cut to prop the timber along it s length using suitably sturdy props such as acro props once supported cut off the damaged end leaving only solid un damaged timber now. When using nails to joint truss members it is also necessary to use lumber plywood or oriented strand board osb to join the members. How to fix a broken roof truss step 1.

Trusses come in different lumber widths 2 by 6 or 2 by 8. When working in tight and cramped quarters in the attic be careful where you step. After measuring the damaged area between your roof trusses or rafters cut a piece of 1 2 plywood that will cover the. Using a speed square square the marks across the wall plate and place an x on the marks.

The basics of the process are as follows. To keep the plywood from cupping under the load 2x4 squash blocks were to be inserted between the top and bottom chords. To reinforce the ends of the trusses 3 4 inch plywood gussets were to be attached to both sides of each truss with 10d nails 3 inches on center on all chords. These trusses are usually engineered by a structural engineering company to carry a specific roof load.

If the roof truss has a small crack you will be using the two wooden boards to patch it up but if the crack is much more severe you should use the steel plates because they offer much stronger support to the damaged truss. Glue a piece of 1 rigid styrofoam to the plywood. Determine the size of the roof truss to be repaired. Cut two pieces of lumber 4.

Driving nails into it might make it worse place. However you can create a temporary solution by following the steps below. For typical roof trusses used in light frame construction bolts are usually not used because of spacing requirements.